Apparatus for processing strip metal



Oct. 28, 1958 J. l. GREENB ERGER APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING STRIP METAL 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 19, 1954 m1 mm Jbm u Z eimah2gie ///.5 fizrwMAp Pgcf Jags Oct. 28, 1958 J. I. GREENBERGER 2,857,655

APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING STRIP METAL Filed March 19, 1954 e Sheets-Sheet 2 N n W E Oct. 28, 1958 J. l. GREENBERGER APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING STRIP METAL 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed March 19, 1954 M: v OM- N: N: 2 E

INVEN TOR. JOSEPH I GREENBERGER Oct. 28, 1958 J. GREENBERGER 2,857,655

APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING STRIP METAL Fiied March 19. 1954 e Sheets-Sheet 5 g, Q 9 3 35 '2 F 2 p 3 5- Ill// 4 N 2 v N n O n 1" 2% 5 5 1" g r- 2 a 'i '3 z a 8'0" o d- N t E N ENTOR. SEPH I. GREENBERGER Byg HIS H 'T'TORNE Y Oct. 28, 1958 J. l. GREENBERGER APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING STRIP METAL 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed March 19. 1954 Unite 1 2,857,655 APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING STRIP METAL Joseph I. Greenberger, Pittsburgh, Pa., assignor to United This invention relates to a method of and apparatus for mechanically processing strip material, particularly being adapted for use in processing hot rolled continuous metallic strip in the cold state in order to loosen and remove from the surfaces thereof a considerable portion of the surface oxides or scale formed thereon and to fracture or crack up the remaining or adhering oxides in such a fashion as to provide a great number of paths of access to the oxide and base metal. interface for'permitting scale removal solutions such as acids or the like to enter readily therethrough to the interface thereby to remove rapidly and efficientlythe oxide scale still remaining on the strip. "Further to the removal of the scale, the small amount of attendant cold Working improves the metallurgical characteristics of the strip metal as well.

Inasmuch as the removal of scale from metallic strip by pickling alone is quite a time consuming operation,

as well as an expensive undertaking from the standpoint of quantities of processing materials needed, the demands placed upon apparatus of this nature require-either that' the pickling bath tanks be unreasonably longin order to insure that rapidly moving strip metal, will be in the baths the necessary length of time for completeremoval of the scale therefrom or, if shorter tanks are employed," that the strip be processed at a very low rate of, speed to permit the pickling solutions to properly effect the removal of the scale. However, if the scale on'the'. strip surfaceshas been thoroughly cracked so that there are formed a great number of access paths to the interface, the pickling solutions more effectively can penetrate to the area between the interface of the base metal and the remaining scale and thus more readily cause complete removal of the scale, thereby greatly increasing' the'production of the line. i i

The apparatus herein disclosed provides forjtreating continuous strip metal by means of a plurality of groups. of processing rolls in which reverse bending operations cracking and removal of a substantial portionjof the W Pa n scale without cold working the material to an excess, a

definite relationship must be .maintained between the thickness of the strip beingpr-ocessed and the rolls around which the bending operation is performed. The most eflicient range of ratios of the small'diameter bending roll of each group to the thickness of typical low carbon strip has been found to be within the limits of 25 to 1" and 50 to 1. Where, for example, the ratio is less than 25 to 1, due to the unnecessarily severe bending excessive hardening ofthe metal results which is objectionable both in subsequent cold rolling operations as Well as in deep drawing operations such as are involved in the formation of condulet boxes from the strip in the as-h-ot rolled condition. If, however, the ratio of the bending -roll to the strip thickness is much greater than" 50 m1; the surface strainsimposed uponthe strip and the oxide are w 2,851,655 Ce Patented Oct. 28, 8

not sufiicient to exceed theyield pointof the "oxide-so that there will result no appreciable decrease in the time consumed in subsequent pickling operations relativeto the time required for pickling if no prior processing had been effected. Inasmuch as the metallurgical characteristics of ordinary hot rolled strip material vary somewhatthe strip not being raised to such an extent as to aiiec detrimentally subsequent processing thereof. 7.

With theforegoing in ,mind, one object of this invention is to provideapparatusinwhich a reverse bendingoperation upon strip metal is performed in order .efiec-.

tivelyto crack the scale-thereon and remove a substantial portion thereof without cold working the strip metal to excess.

Another object of thisinvention is -to provide apparatus for the cold workingof strip metal by the reverse bending thereof in which a definite and pre-determined relation ship exists between the size of the bending rolls and the thickness of the continuous strip being processed.

Still another object of thisinvention is to provide apparatusadapted to be employed in cold working continuous.

metal strip not only for removing a considerable portion of thescale therefrom, but forimprovingthe metallurgical structure of the strip material being processed...

Another object of this invention is to provide apparatus in which a reverse flexing operation is performedupon thestrip accompanied by the simultaneous application of pressure at the point of reversal of fle'xure in order tofracture and crack up the scale thereon andremove a substantial portion therefrom without cold working the strip metal to excess.

.These objects, as well as the various other novel fea hires and advantages of this invention, will be apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings of which: H v t Figure 1*i's 'an elevationyiew taken from the drive side of a mechanical scale breaking apparatus embodying the features of the invention herein disclosed;

Figure 2 is a plan view of theapparatus shown' in Figure 1;

Figure 3 :is a sectional view taken on line III II I Figure 4;

Figure 4' is a sectional view taken on line IV-- I V of:

Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line V-V of Figure 4';

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line VIVIofFigure4;and 1 Figures 7 and -8 are fragmentary 'views' of a portion of thewater spray system taken on lines VII-V ll and.

VIII -VIII respectively of Figure 4;

Figure 9 is a, plan view of apparatusembodying, in somewhat modified form, herein disclosed;

Figure 10 is an elevation view of the apparatus shown 1 in Figure 9;

Figure 11 is Figure9; t Figure 12 is a sectional Figurell; Figure 13 is an view taken at XII-XII of one of the bending rolls, and

Figure 14 is a view showing in section a portionfot the mechanism set out in Figure 13.

the'features of the invention i a sectional view'taken at: XI-XI of enlarged frontflelevation viewbf portion of the apparatus showing a mechanism for effecting the distribution of pressures applied to either end of;

With reference to the drawings, Figures 1 through 5, the frame for supporting the elements comprising this invention consists of a pair of housings 11 and 12, a base plate 13 secured thereto, a cover plate 14 affixed to the two housings, and a plurality of transverse reinforcing plates '15 secured at their ends to each of the housings. The housings are so formed at thetops thereof to provrde a pair of integral and symmetrical portions 16 which extend upwardly therefrom. In the base plate 13 are openings 17 through which a plurality of bolts 18 may be passed for securing the frame to a suitable foundation 19.

l'n the sides of each housing 11 and 12, there are two windows 21 and 22 each adapted to receive for slidable movement along guides 23 provided therein two pairs of upper vertically movable roll supporting chucks 24 and 25 respectively. Links 26, pivotally attached at one end thereof to the chucks 24 and 25 by means of pins 27, are pivotally secured at their opposite ends to outwardly extending lever' arms 28, which arms are keyed to rocker shafts 29 supported at their ends suitable bearings 31 mounted within the upwardly extending symmetrical housing portions 16; Also keyed to each of the shafts 29 are similar lever arms 32, to the free ends of which are pivotally connected, by means of a ball and socket joint 3 3, the outward end of piston rods 34 adapted to be actuated by the fluid motors 35 which are pivotally secured to bosses 36 on the upper portion of the cover plate 14.

Extending transversely of the two housings and supported at the ends thereof in suitable bearings are two groups of nested strip processing rolls which, except for one set being inverted with respect to the other, are similar in form and function. In the forward portion of the housin s and comprising the first group of cooperating rolls is positioned apair of rolls 37' and 38, the shafts 39 and 41 of which are rotatably mounted in suitable bearings 42 secured in the chucks 43 attached to the housings at the bottom of the window openings 21. The shaft 41 on the exit side of the first group of rolls is provided with an extension 44 towhich is secured a coupling member 45 having attached thereto a shaft 46, driven from a suitable source of power such as, a motor. driven gear thereforen 't snecificallv shown herein. 6

reduction n or the lik rwe known, n the art and A small diameter strip, bending roll i'l adapted to be fi 1 e t lat nsh p. be ween. hetwo r la: tively large di et r rs l 7 and; 3,3 to ethe w t a backing roll 48. su ported by'and vertically. rnoyable with the two chucks 24. The ends of the backing roll 48 are mounted in suitable bearings 49 retained within the chucks 24 by rings 51 afiixed to the chucks by studs 52. Forv preventing transverse displacement of the, two vertically movable rolls one of the chucks has two slots 53, along th e sides thereof, within which is received for slidable movement therein two keeper plates 54 attached to one of the main housings. 2

Two shallow axially extending openings 55 in the ends of the bending roll 47 are adapted to receive the reduced ends 56 of t'wov pull pins 57 which are yieldably pressed into engagement with the ends of the roll by two compression springs 58 encircling the pins and retained in position thereon within a recess 58a insprin g cartridges 59. The cartridges are threadably engaged at their outer ends in a pair of housings 61 and are encircled. by

suitable bearings 62 retained in their respectivepositions in the vertically movable housings 61 by caps 63} The housings 61 are provided with projections 64 which are received by and vertically slidable within guides 65. of the yokes 66 extending outwardly from the chucks 2,4.

Secured to. the outer ends of the'pull pins are. discs 61 adapted to be manually gripped for; withdrawing the.

pins from the'bending roll lg g ingpositions' in order to fre e, the roll and permit. its removal andireplacement,

either with the same sized roll or with one of a diameter- 4 which will insure that the proper ratio of diameter of roll and strip thickness will be maintained.

For holding the bending roll 47 into engagement with its backing roll 48, when the rolls are opened for threading purposes, there is provided a pair of rods 68 which are pivotally secured at one end to the housings 61, passed through an opening 69 of each yoke and encircled by compression springs 71 secured in position by adjusting nuts 72 threadably engaging the ends of the rods.

The second group of processing rolls, as mentioned previously, is inverted with respect to the first or entry group of rolls. In this case the backing roll 73 thereof is supported in a pair of chucks 74 afiixed to the main housings, and the small diameter bending roll 75 supported at the ends thereof by means of a pair of pull pins 76 slidable within the housings 77, which housings are vertically movable within the yokes 78 projecting outwardly from the chucks 74. The bending roll is firmly pressed into engagement with its backing roll 73 by means of the compression springs 79. Above the bending roll 75, sup ported in suitable bearings 79 mounted in the vertically movable chucks 25 are two large diameter rolls 81 and 82 adapted to be placed into and withdrawn from a nesting relationship with the bending roll 75. The roll 82 on the discharge side of the second group of rolls is connected to and driven from a source of power in a manner similar to that employed for driving the roll 38. Although one roll of each group is disclosed as being driven, it is to be appreciated that any or all of the rolls may have power applied thereto without departing from the scope of this invention.

For removing from the surfaces of each of the rolls 37, 38 and 73 the scale or other foreign material which may adhere thereto, a plurality of wipers 83 is provided, each pivotally mounted on a rod 84 attached to the housings and pressed into engagement with the rolls by a spring 85.

In order to insure the removal of loosened scale from the strip surface and to prevent its being carried into the second group of processing rolls or into the tanks of the processing line, a water spray system is employed for spraying both sides of the strip which comprises a pair of adjustable nozzles 86 and 87 secured to a manifold 88 attached to the end of a pipe 89 and a second similar pair of adjustable nozzles 91 and 92 attached to a pipe 93. Both pipes 89 and 93 are connected to a T 94 to which an inlet pipe 95 is secured for conducting the water thereto from a source of supply, not shown. The two nozzles 86 and 87 are positioned between the two groups of processing rolls and the nozzles 91 and 92 are positioned adjacent to the discharge side of the second group of rolls.

Secured between the housings 11 and 12 and located intermediate the two groups of processing rolls there are two guide plates 96 and 97. The bottom guide 96 is adjustable so that it may be placed at the desired angle properly for leading the strip from the first group of processing rolls into the second during the threading procedure. Adjacent to the roll 82 on the discharge side of the second group of processing rolls, a deflector roll 98 is journaled in a frame 99 pivotally mounted between the, two housings 11 and 12 and provided with a counterweighted apron 101 for insuring that the strip will be maintained. in contact with both the large diameter roll 82 and the. deflector roll 98. The apron may be held in a fixed position by tightening a nut 102 threadably secured to a stud 103 engaging a slot 104 of a bracket 105 attached to the bottom of the apron.

For confining the dust and. thewater spray within the area i n which the processing operations are taking place, tworemovable covers 106 and 107 are attached to the main frame, one being placed on the driving side and the other on the operating side of the apparatus.

To permit the threading of the strip material through the processing apparatus, fluid under pressure is applied.

metal.

to the two motors 35 whereby the chucks. 24 and 25 are moved vertically upward, thereby raising the bending roll 47 and its backing roll 48 of the first group of rolls and the two large diameter rolls 81 and 82 of the second group respectively. The leading end of the strip is then passed through the apparatus, over the rolls 37, 38 and 73 and over the deflector roll 98, so that on reversing the two fluid motors 35, the upper rolls will move downward, and come into contact with and cause the strip to assume the contour substantially as shown in Figure 4. The water sprays are then turned on and the power applied for driving the two rolls 38 and 82 whereby the strip will be passed continuously through the apparatus and, by reason of the reverse bending which takes place, be processed to remove a substantial portion of the scale from the surfaces thereof and effect cracking of the remaining portion adhering thereto. Fluid pressure is constantly applied .to the motors 35 as the strip is being second group of rolls, similar to the group at the entry end, are mounted in an inverse fashion to that in which the first group is mounted. In the bottom of the windows of both of the front and rear frame sections there is mounted a stationary continuous single chuck 128 'for supporting the bearings 129 in which a bottom relatively large diameter 131 is secured. Slidably mounted in the upper portions of the windows there is a continuous chuck 132 within which suitable bearings are mounted a for supporting the two'upper relatively large diameter processed so as yieldably to maintain the rolls in constant contact therewith.

In the use of this apparatusand by virtue of the hydraulic piston cylinder arrangements provided for each of the two groups of rolls, the pressure applied to the strip at the points of reversal of fiexure'is positive and controllable so that for the particular conditions existent, i..e., for a given ratio of bending roll diameter to thickness of strip being processed, the pressure may be so applied as to result in optimum oxide scale fracture conditions without imposing excessive cold work upon the As mentioned heretofore, if hot rolled metal is cold worked excessively the yield point thereof is raised considerably, which thereby materially reduces the amount of reduction of the strip which can be taken in the first pass of a subsequent cold rolling operation, thereby most objectionably' lowering the efficiency of the rolling mill operation without gaining any particular advantage thereby.

With reference to Figures 9 through 14 there is shown therein apparatus embodying certain modifications of the apparatus heretofore set forth and described. In Figures 9 and 10 there is disclosed strip processing apparatus comprising a housing 111 in which there are provided a plurality of rolls including relatively small diameter strip bending rolls separately driven by direct. current motors 112 and 112a connected directly thereto by spind1es 113 and 113a respectively. Suitable controls for the motors 112 and 112a are included in the electrical circuit in order to provide for driving the motors and the bendingrolls connected thereto at different speeds. As set forth more specifically in Figures 11 and 12'the housing comprises a base 114, a front frame section 115 and a rear frame section 116 which are secured together'at their bottoms and to base '114 by means of bottom tie plates 117', and at their tops by tie plates 118. Between the upper tie plates 118 there are secured short ribs 119, thereby forming rectangular openings at the top of the housing. In both the front and the rear frame sections of the housing there are provided similar windows 121. In the windows of the housing at the entry end thereof, as shown to the left of Figure 11, there is'mounted a suitable continuous stationary chuck 122, which extends from the front'to the rear frame sections, carrying the front and rear bearings for two relatively large diameter rolls 123. Slidably mounted in the upper portions of the frame windows there is a continuous chuck 124 also extending from the front to the rear frame sections. Suitable bearings for supporting the ends of arelatively large diameter back-up roll 125 are mounted in the chucks 124.' A relatively'small diameter bending roll 126, shown to be positioned in its nested relationship with respect to the rolls 123, is mounted in suitable bearings having housings to which there are secured upwardly extending links slotted at the upper ends and slidably secured to the upper chuck 124. Also adjustably. mounted at the entry end of the housing there is a deflector rolls 133. A small diameter bending roll 134, similar to the bending roll 1 26, and which is similarly mounted to roll 134, is shown in Figures 11 and 12, to be in nested relationship with the relatively large diameter rolls 133 and mounted at its ends in bearings 135 and 136 confined within bearing housings 137 and 138 respectively. At the driven side of each of the rolls, 126 and 134, there is a coupling 139 which is readily engageable with the respective driving spindle provided therefor.

At the opposite end of the rolls 126 and 134 similar roll changing, positioning, and bearing means are provided. A cap 141, having a bayonet connection, is fitted over the end of the roll and is secured to the portion of the bearing which rotates with'the roll. Into the cap 141 there is threaded a jack screw 142 having a lock nut 143 thereon and an enlarged portion 144 at its inner end for abutting the end of the roll as the screw is drawn up thereby to position the roll and engage the tapered sur- I faces of the sleeve on theroll with the taper within the inner bearing race. Grooves 145 are proivded near the ends of the rolls to be engaged by a porter bar when the work roll is to be drawn out, for replacement, through the bearing 135. The opposite ends of the rolls 126 and 134 have fiat surfaces formed thereon which slide into and engage with similar flat surfaces formed-within the coupling 139. Simply by loosening the jack screw 142 and removing the cap 141, the roll may be quickly removed and replaced without expending a great deal of effort or consuming very much time.

To each of the housings 137 and 138 there are se cured links 146 which are provided with slots at their upper ends through which pass bolts 147for slidably securing the links to the upper chucks 124 and 132. Thus, on upward movement of the chucks, the small diameter bendingrolls 126 and 134 respectively will be raised. Inasmuch as the bending roll 126 is to be raised a sufficient distance to permit rapid threading of the strip through the apparatus, the slots in the links 146 of the roll 126 are rather short so that the chuck 124 raises only a slight amount before the roll 126 is picked up. As to the links 146 for the roll 134, the slotstherein are rather long so that when the chuck 133 is raised for threading purposes the rolls 133 go up with the chuck but if the roll 134 is to be changed, the chuck 133 is raised to a sufficient height thereby engaging thelinks at the end of the slots and raising the roll 134 a relatively small distance to lift it from the roll 131.

At the top of the housing there are four piston-cylinder assemblies 148 mounted ontrunnions 149 supported by cartridges 151 secured in openings provided in the front and rear frame sections 115 and 116 and in the ribs 119. The lower ends of the piston rods are pivotally secured to links 152 pivotally'secured to the roll chucks 124 and 132. Pivotally connected to the lower end of shafts 155 and 156, shaft 155 being eccentric and located on the operators side of the apparatus as shown in Figure 14. A second pair of lever arms 157 extend outward from and are firmly secured to each of the torque tubes 154 and are provided at their outer ends with adjustable threaded stops 158 adapted to be engaged with stop brackets 159 secured to the housing frame and provided for a purpose to be hereinafter defined.

With reference to Figures 13 and 14, a bracket 161 extends outward from the housing front frame section 115 having mounted thereon a gear reduction unit 162 to which at the input side thereof there is secured a handwheel 163 and, at the output side to a short power shaft 164, thereof, there is connected the eccentric stub shaft 155. The eccentric shaft 155 is secured in a roller type bearing 165 to aid the operator in rotating the eccentric to cant the torque tube 154 for a purpose to be hereinafter set forth, sufficient clearance being provided at the stub shaft 156 to permit such canting to take place.

Adjacent to the roll 133 at the delivery end of the ap L paratus there is a deflector roil 16 6 mounted at the inner end of an apron 167 pivotally mounted on an upwardly extending bracket 168 secured to the apparatus housing.

For tilting the apron 167 upward thus to raise the roll 166. a pair of piston cylinder assemblies 169 are connected thereto and are mounted on suitable trunnions as shown in Figures and 11. In order to limit the rise of the apron 167 and secure proper positioning of the deflector roll 166, an adjustable stop is provided consisting of a threaded member 171 slidably mounted in a housing 172 and vertically movable by means of a worm wheel 173 threadably engaged therewith and rotated by a worm 174 driven by a suitable motor 175.

Between the two groups of rolls, as shown in Fig.

11, there is an apron or guide plate 176 pivoted at 177 and secured by links 178 to the upper chuck 132. When the chuck 132 is in the down position the apron is tilted downward and out of engagement with the strip. However, when the chuck 132 is raised for threading strip through the apparatus, the apron 174 serves as a guide to direct the strip over the roll 134.

Let it be assumed that the strip being processed, as shown in either Figures 4 or 11, is of a uniform thickness across its width and further that the strip thickness, for example, is .090. The bending roll size to maintain the ratio of roll diameter to strip thickness within the desired range of to l and to 1 would then be approximately 4". If the strip is of a greater thickness, then the diameter of the bending rolls would be increased, though not necessary to do so as the ratio remains within the range of adequate scale breaking, so that for a strip thickness of .127" the bending roll diameter may be of the order of 4%, thereby maintaining the bending roll diameter to strip thickness ratio well within the range heretofore set out. relationship of the rolls as well as adequate support along their lengths, the diameter of the large rolls is of the order of five times as great as the diameter of the minimum small rolls.

As the strip passes between the rolls 12,6 and 1.23, of Fig. 11 for example, it is flexed, from one, side arcuately about the two large diameter rolls 123 and from the remote or opposite side about the intermediate small diameter bending roll 126. The strip: is similarly flexed in passing between the; rolls 134 and 133 the difference in procedure being that flexure of the striptakes place at the; rolls 13.41. and 133 onthe side of the, strip remote from that which makes arcuatecontact with the. rolls 123 and 12 6.,

As shown in Figure 11, thestrip. is maintained in substantial arcuate contact with the roll 123 at the, entry side; by means of the deflector rolt 1.27. and with the roll 133 remotely spaced therefrom at the delivery side by means of the deflector roll, 166. By reason of the ad- For affecting proper nesting iii) justable step 171 which limits the rise of the roll 166;

arcuate contact. of the strip with the roll 133 at the delivery side may be varied and flatness of the delivered strip may be improved. Close arcuate contact of the strip with the adjacent intermediate large diameter rolls 123 and 133 is maintained by the tension applied to the strip in passing from the first group of rolls to the second group, such tension being provided in the instant case, by driving the bending roll 134 slightly faster than the roll 126 is driven.

The pressure applied to the strip at the points of contact of the rolls 1 26 and 123 and 134 and 133 respectively, as shown in Fig. 11, or, to the rolls in their nested relationship as shown in Fig. 4, is so controlled by operatin; valves provided in the hydraulic control system con ncctezl to the piston cylinder assemblies that the pressures coupled with the flexure action are sufiicient to affect the oxide scale fracturing and cracking desired as well as a substantial leveling off to a more or less uniform state of the yield point of the hot rolled steel without excessively cold working the metal.

As the strip passes between the rolls of each group its surfaces are elongated by small percentage, sutficient to subject the oxide scale thereon to a stress beyond its yield point thereby causing a substantial portion of the scale to flake off the strip and the remaining portion to be so fractured that the cracks formed therein provide a myriad of paths for permitting ready access to the interfaces of the oxide and the strip by the pickling solutions through which the strip is subsequently passed for removing the remaining oxide scale.

Should the thickness of the strip across its width not be uniform but increase in thickness from one edge to the other, then in order to provide for uniformity of pressure across the width of the strip, the rolls of each group must be so positioned as to define a tapered pass therebetween which will correspond to the cross-sectional shape of the strip.

The roll pass may be modified in one of two ways, the first being by adjusting the torque tube 154 to tilt the chucks along their lengths thus to raise or lower one of jacent thereto. Assuming that the tube ends are raised,

then the arms 153 connected adjacent that portion of the tube will be raised at their pivot points in the housing and along their lengths so as to raise the ends of the chucks adjacent to the operators side of the apparatus. Upward movement of the chuck ends causes the end of the roll 126 and of backing roll and the ends of the rolls 133 also to be raised The rolls will then, in their nested relationship, define a tapered pass therebetween.

Should the roll pass be modified by the springing or twisting of the frame, the torque tube eccentric is not rotated so that the tube is in its. normally horizontal posh tion and. the screws 158. are carefully adjusted on-the side of the housing at which. the greater opening of the tapered pass. is. to appear so that they engage with their stops 159 at some, point during the downward movement of the rolls 126 and 125 and of the rolls. 133 so as to spring the housing frame a sutficient amount to prevent one end of the rolls. from moving downward as. far as the other end thereby to define a tapered pass between the rolls.

The; tapered pass in. either of the two cases may actually be very slight. However, by the means provided and as specifically described, it is thus possible to accommodate strip having a tapering cross section so that uniformity of pressure; thereacross is assured. Localized high pressure points which would normally occur at theedge of the strip having the greater thickness is thereby prevented.

In accordance with, the provisions of the patent statutes,

I have explained the principle and operation of my invention and have illustrated and described what I consider to represent the best embodiment thereof. However, I desire to have it understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described.

This application constitutes a continuation-in-part of my application Serial Number 45,098 filed August 19, 1948, now abandoned.

I claim: I

1. Apparatus for processing continuous metal strip comprising a first group of rolls consisting of a pair of parallelly disposed relatively large diameter rolls over a portion of the arcuate surface of which strip may be passed and flexed in one direction, a relatively small diameter bending roll over a portion of the arcuate surface of which strip is passed and flexed in the opposite direction, a backing roll for said small diameter bending roll,

a second group of rolls consisting of a pair of relatively large diameter rolls over a portion of the arcuate surface of which strip may be passed and flexed in a direction opposite to that effected by said first pair of relatively large diameter rolls, a relatively small diameter bending roll over a portion of the arcuate surface of which strip may be passed and flexed in a direction opposite to that effected by said second group of large diameter rolls, a backing roll for said small diameter bending roll and controllable pressure applying means for positioning and holding said bending and said large diameter rolls of each group in a nesting relationship thereby to apply pressure to said strip at the points of reversal of flexure.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the bending roll of each of said two groups of rolls is driven.

3. In apparatus for processing continuous metal strip a pair of relatively large diameter longitudinally spaced rolls, a relatively small diameter strip bending roll, a backing roll for said small diameter bending roll, the axes of said backing and bending rolls being contained within a plane disposed at right angles relative to the plane containing the axes of the relatively large diameter rolls, means for positioning said bending roll into a nesting relationship with respect to said relatively large diameter rolls and for controllably applying a limited pressure to the rolls at the points of contact.

4. Strip processing apparatus according toclaim 3 in which the ends of the small diameter bending roll are recessed and supported by a pair of pull pins normally yieldably pressed into engagement with the recessed ends of said bending roll.

5. Apparatus for processing in the cold state hot rolled strip material for fracturing oxide scale formed on the surfaces thereof comprising a housing having a pair of windows therein, a chuck having the roll supporting portions thereof mounted in the lower portions of said windows, a chuck having the roll supporting portions thereof mounted in the upper portions of said windows, a pair of relatively large diameter rolls supported at their ends by one of said chucks, a relatively small diameter bending roll supported at its ends by the other of said chucks, one of said chucks being movable relatively to the other for placing the rolls carried thereby into a nested relationship with their axes normally parallel to one another thereby to define a circuitous path for passing strip therealong for processing and means connected to one of said chucks for modifying the relationship between the axes of said rolls thereby to define a tapered pass between the rolls for accommodating strip having a tapering thickness.

6. Apparatus for processing in the cold state hot rolled strip material for fracturing oxide scale formed on the surfaces thereof comprising a housing, a pair of continuous chucks mounted in said housing, a pair of relatively large diameter rolls mounted in one of said chucks, a relatively small diameter bending roll mounted in the other of said chucks, one of said chucks being movable relatively to the other for placing said rolls in nested relationship thereby to provide for the strip a circuitous path of travel between the rolls, means for applying a predetermined pressure to the rolls at their points of contact, driving means for said bending roll, a support pivotally mounted at its ends within said housing and pivotally connected to the movable chuck at points adjacent the roll supporting portions thereof, and means for changing one of the pivot points within the housing thereby to modify the relative position of the rolls so that in their nested relationship a tapered pass is defined therebetween.

7. Apparatus for processing in the cold state hot rolled strip material for fracturing oxide scale formed on the surfaces thereof comprising a housing, a roll supporting continuous chuck slidably mounted in said housing, a second roll supporting continuous chuck mounted in said housing, a pair of relatively large diameter rolls supported at their ends in one of said chucks and a relatively small diameter bending roll supported at its ends in the other of said chucks, a relatively large diameter backing roll for said bending roll, driving means for said bending roll, means for moving said chuck and the rolls carried thereby to place under controlled pressure the bending roll and the relatively large diameter rolls in nested relationship to provide for the strip a circuitous path therebetween, and means for modifying the position of said chucks and the rolls carried thereby to define a tapered pass between the rolls.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7 in which the means for modifying the position of the chucks includes'a pair of elements secured to the moveable chuck adjacent its roll supporting portion and to said housing, one of said elements adapted to be raised or lowered relative to the other thereby to raise or lower the portion of the chuck connected thereto. a

I 9. Apparatus according to claim 7 in which the means for modifying the position of the chucks includes means connected to the moveable chuck and engageable with said housing on downward movement of the chuck thereby to distort the housing causing unequal separation of the rolls and to define a taperedpass therebetween.

10. Apparatus according to claim 7 in which one of the supports for one end of said bending roll includes a bearing having a groove for engaging with a tongue formed on the end of the roll and the other support includes a bearing having an inner race tapered within its inner surface'engageable with a similar tapered surface formed on the other end of the roll and a jack screw operatively arranged for locking said roll in position within said bearings.

11. Apparatus according to claim 7 in which one of the supports for one end of said bending roll includes a bearing having a groove for engaging with a tongue formed on the end of the roll and the other support includes a bearing having an inner race tapered within its inner surface engageable with a similar tapered surface formed on the other end of the roll, a cap detachably secured to said bearing inner race, and a jack screw threadably connected to said cap and operatively arranged to engage with the end of the roll adjacent thereto for locking said roll within said bearings;

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 295,217 Yorke Mar. 18, 1884 694,722 Brooker Mar. 4, 1902 1,317,714 Locke Oct. 7, 1919 2,004,596 Biggert June 11, 1935 2,256,520 Johansen et a1 Sept. 23, 1941 2,291,361 Walsh July 28,1942 2,318,432 Stanier et a1 May 4, 1943 2,391,499 Yoder Dec. 25, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS 448,165 Great Britain June 3, 1936 

